Partially-sighted man and his family climb peak for charity

A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED man and his family climbed Ben Nevis to raise money for eye research.

Robert Mondey, 38, from Gosport, was joined by his wife Jennifer, 32, and their children Joshua, 13, and Oliver, nine.

The family climbed the 1,344m peak to raise money for Fight For Sight, a charity that funds research to prevent sight loss and treat eye disease.

Robert, who works for Hampshire County Council Schools Provisions, was diagnosed with keratoconus during a routine eye test in 2008. The degenerative eye condition affects the cornea, causing it to weaken and change shape.

He said: ‘My eyesight is deteriorating rapidly and I have to come to terms with the fact that in a few years it’s possible that I may lose my sight completely.

‘I wanted to support Fight For Sight and the research work they fund into the condition, to help find a cure to prevent future generations from getting the condition.

‘I was delighted to have climbed the peak of Ben Nevis. We started at 8am, aiming to be finished within 10 hours but the heat and humidity meant that it actually took us 14 hours, finishing just after 10pm.

“It was extremely difficult for me, as my condition makes it hard to judge distances or see in details. It was a huge personal challenge.’

The family completed the climb on July 25. For more, see justgiving.com/summitforsight.